Inertial Dynamic Toy

ABSTRACT

An inertial dynamic toy is disclosed comprising: an annular housing having a circumferential groove; a flywheel mounted to a flywheel support axle, the flywheel support axle configured to be retained inside the annular housing; and an outrigger support frame releasably attached to the annular housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present Application is a Divisional of U.S. Pat. No. 8,870,621.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates broadly to a method of creating a dynamic toyand, more specifically to a toy including a gyroscopic wheel providinginertial energy for the movement and stabilization of the toy when inmotion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional toys using a gyroscopic component for providing energy toimpart movement typically also include a reduction gearbox between thegyroscope and two drive wheels. This configuration results in arelatively complex drive system that may be subject to jamming, or gearslippage.

What is needed is a toy configuration in which a gyroscopic componentmay be utilized without a gearbox, in which toy movement may mimicactions of a top, and in which the toy may be used as a gyroscope.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an inertial dynamic toycomprises: an annular housing having a circumferential groove; aflywheel mounted to a flywheel support axle, the flywheel support axleconfigured to be retained inside the annular housing; and an outriggersupport frame releasably attached to the annular housing.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of impartingdynamic action to a toy comprises: providing a flywheel mounted to aflywheel support axle; securing the flywheel support axle to an annularhousing such that the flywheel freely rotates along an axis of rotationcoincident with the flywheel support axle; and attaching an outriggersupport frame to the annular housing such that the flywheel and theoutrigger support frame provide two-point support to the annularhousing.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bemore fully understood from the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical plan view of an inertial dynamic toy showinga flywheel rotatably secured to an annular housing, in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical front view of the inertial dynamic toy ofFIG. 1 showing an outrigger support frame supporting the annularhousing;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatical side view of the inertial dynamic toy of FIG.1 showing a dome cover attached to the annular housing;

FIG. 4 is an alternate diagrammatical plan view of the inertialtransportation toy of FIG. 1 showing an optional set of covers for theoutrigger support frame;

FIG. 5 is another alternate diagrammatical plan view of the inertialtransportation toy of FIG. 4 showing an alternative pattern for thecover set;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical front view of an alternative exemplaryannular housing assembly;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatical side view of the annular housing assembly ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical top view of the annular housing assembly ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatical top and partially sectional view the annularhousing of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatical top view of an annular housing as used inthe annular housing assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a detailed and partially sectioned view of the annularhousing of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a detailed and partially sectioned view of the annularhousing of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an inertial dynamic toy 10comprising a flywheel 12 rotatably mounted on a fixed flywheel supportaxle 14. In an exemplary embodiment, the flywheel support axle 14 may besecured to an annular housing 16 such that the flywheel 12 is free torotate about a longitudinal axis of the flywheel support axle 14 whichremains fixed within the annular housing 16. The ends 22, 24 of theflywheel support axle 14 may be retained in corresponding holes orrecesses (not shown) in the annular housing 16, for example, to providethe requisite retention, as known in the art.

Alternatively, the inside surface 26 of the annular housing 16 mayinclude raised areas (not shown) that fit into recesses (not shown) inthe corresponding ends 22, 24 of the flywheel support axle 14, forexample, so as to provide mechanical support. Either configuration willfunction to fix the flywheel support axle 14 in a predetermined positionwithin the annular housing 16, while allowing the flywheel 12 to rotatefreely with an axis of rotation coincident with the longitudinal axis ofthe flywheel support axle 14.

The annular housing 16 may include a circumferential groove 28 having asubstantially semicircular cross-sectional shape, as shown in FIGS. 2and 3. A dome cover 18 may be provided as a protective enclosure for theannular housing 16. The dome cover 18 may be fabricated from a clear ortinted plastic material. The dome cover 18 may be secured to either theinside or the outside of the annular housing 16 by a frictional fit, asknown in the art, or alternatively, the dome cover 18 may be bonded orglued to the annular housing 16 by an appropriate chemical compound.

The annular housing 16 may be supported, when placed on a surface, bymeans of an outrigger support frame 30 having a shape that generallyresembles a figure eight, a butterfly, or a bowtie. The outriggersupport frame 30 may include: (i) a first C-shaped fan-like section 32,(ii) a second C-shaped fan-like section 34, (iii) a first central curvedsection 36 attached to ends of the two C-shaped fan-like sections, and(iv) a second central curved section 38 attached to ends of the twoC-shaped fan-like sections.

The first C-shaped fan-like section 32, the second C-shaped fan-likesection 34, the first central curved section 36, and the second centralcurved section 38 may be formed from a single piece of rod or wirematerial to produce a unitary support component. Alternatively, thefirst C-shaped fan-like section 32, the second C-shaped fan-like section34, the first central curved section 36, and the second central curvedsection 38 may comprise separate parts mechanically coupled togetherinto an assembly using fasteners, brazing, soldering, or bonding, forexample, with a butt joint or a lap joint configuration.

Either support configuration described above provides for a unitarywire-like component having the figure eight, butterfly, or bowtie shape.In an exemplary embodiment, the outrigger support frame 30 may comprisea heavy-gauge wire, or a plastic material, of from 1.0 mm to about 3.0mm in diameter. The material for the outrigger support frame 30 isselected to provide a spring-like retention of the outrigger supportframe 30 to the annular housing 16 without deformation, and also allowthe annular housing 16 to be rotated within the outrigger support frame.30.

Accordingly, the annular housing 16 may be removed from the outriggersupport frame 30 by forcing the first central curved section 36 awayfrom the second central curved section 38 such that the distance betweenthe first central curved section 36 and the second central curvedsection 38 becomes larger than the diameter of the annular housing 16.By reversing the process, the first central curved section 36 and thesecond central curved section 38 may be placed back into thecircumferential groove 28 and thus reassemble the inertial dynamic toy10.

As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the flywheel 12 mayperform three discrete functions. First, the flywheel 12 may function asa conventional wheel when the inertial dynamic toy 10 is moved acrossthe support surface. Second, the flywheel 12 may provide physicalsupport for the inertial dynamic toy 10 when at rest or otherwise inmotion. Third, the flywheel 12 may function as a dynamic component in agyroscope.

The flywheel 12 may function to convert the inertial dynamic toy 10 intoa gyroscope after a user has placed the flywheel into a state ofrotation by the impartation of a tangential force, or a push across thesupport surface. The inertial dynamic toy 10 is placed into an invertedorientation such that the inertial dynamic toy 10 rests on the domecover 18. When the dome cover 18 is shaped as a hemisphere, as shown inthe illustration, the inertial dynamic toy can spin about, or otherwiseoscillate, depending upon the orientation of the inertial dynamic toy 10when set down onto the support surface. Accordingly, a geometrical domecover shape different from a hemisphere, such as a polygonal shape, canbe used as an enclosure for the annular housing 16, provided that thespinning action of the flywheel 12 is not impeded by the dome cover.When the dome cover 18 has a polygonal shape (not shown), the inertialdynamic toy 10 may exhibit movements that differ from a configurationusing a hemispherical dome cover 18.

As seen in the front view of FIG. 2, the first C-shaped fan-like section32 forms a dihedral angle “A” of less than 180° with the second C-shapedfan-like section 34. That is, the cross sectional shape of the outriggersupport frame 30, as taken through both the first C-shaped fan-likesection 32 and the second C-shaped fan-like section 34, defines anobtuse angle. In an exemplary embodiment, the dihedral angle A may rangefrom about 120° to 180°. Accordingly, the corresponding obtuse anglewould similarly range from about 120° to 180°.

The two central curved sections 36, 38 are sized to fit into, and beretained within, the circumferential groove 18. The outrigger supportframe 30 may be fabricated from a flexible rod-like material, such as asoft metal or a flexible plastic, so as to insure that the two centralcurved sections 36, 38 are held in place in the circumferential groove18 by compressive, spring-like forces provided by the first C-shapedfan-like section 32 and the second C-shaped fan-like section 34.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flywheel 12 extends below the plane ofthe outrigger support frame 30. This configuration allows the flywheel12 to contact a support surface 40 and, when spinning, to impart motionto the inertial dynamic toy 10. This configuration also providesstability to the inertial dynamic toy 10 by means of the lateral supportprovided by the outrigger support frame 30. When the flywheel 12 is atrest, the flywheel 12 and the outrigger support frame 30 providetwo-point support to the annular housing. That is, when the inertialdynamic toy 10 is lying at rest, the inertial dynamic toy 10 contactsthe support surface 40 at: (1) a bottom region of the flywheel 12 and(2) a bottom surface of either the first C-shaped fan-like section 32 orthe second C-shaped fan-like section 34.

In an exemplary embodiment, the flywheel 12 may have a diameter “D” offrom about 30 mm to about 40 mm, and the outrigger support frame 30 mayhave an outer dimension “B” of from about 120 mm to about 200 mm. Theresulting clearance between the outrigger support frame 30 and thesupport surface 40, indicated by dimension “G,” may range from about 5mm to about 0.5×D. The annular housing 16 may have an outside diameter“C” of from about 45 mm to about 70 mm.

It can be appreciated that the annular housing 16 can be rotatedrelative to the outrigger support frame 30, as indicated by arrow “F.”This feature allows a user of the inertial dynamic toy 10 to vary theangular position of the flywheel 12 in the outrigger support frame 30,so as to produce various different modes of rocking motions of theinertial dynamic toy 10, such as side-to-side or front-to-back, when theflywheel 12 is spinning.

In an exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, a first patterned cover 42,comprising an elliptical pattern, may be attached to and cover the firstC-shaped fan-like section 32. Similarly, a matching secondelliptically-patterned cover 44 may be attached to and cover the secondC-shaped fan-like section 34. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, a thirdpatterned cover 46 may be provided on the first C-shaped fan-likesection 32 in place of the first patterned cover 42, the patterncomprising a plurality of symbols and geometrical shapes. A matchingfourth symbolic-patterned cover 48 may be provided on the secondC-shaped fan-like section 34 in place of the secondelliptically-patterned cover 44.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to thetwo patterns shown, and that other types and styles of patterns may beused to cover the first C-shaped fan-like section 32 and the secondC-shaped fan-like section 34. The particular pattern used is limitedonly by the imagination of the designer of the inertial dynamic toy 10.

In an exemplary embodiment, an inertial dynamic toy 10 may comprise anannular housing assembly 50, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. An annular housing52, in the annular housing assembly 50, may include an upper ridge 54and a circumferential groove 56. The annular housing 52 may befabricated from duralumin. A dome cover 58, here shown as comprising ahemispherical shape, may be secured to the upper ridge 54, by frictionalfit or by adhesive means, such as by chemical bonding.

A flywheel 60 may be retained on a support axle 62. The flywheel 60 mayhave an outside diameter of approximately 30 mm and a thickness of about10 mm. The support axle 62 may have a diameter of approximately 3 mm anda length of approximately 44 mm. The flywheel 60 may be loosely retainedon the support axle 62 such that the flywheel 60 may rotate even if thesupport axle 62 is fixed in place. In an exemplary material, theflywheel 60 may be fabricated from a metal such as brass.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, there may be provided a pair of spacersleeves 64, disposed on the support axle 62. The spacer sleeves 64 havean inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of thesupport axle 62. In an exemplary embodiment, the spacer sleeve may befabricated from a soft material, such as plastic, and have a length ofapproximately 12 mm, an outside diameter of approximately 6 mm, and aninside diameter of approximately 3 mm. This configuration insures thatthe flywheel 60 is maintained in position on the support axle 62, wherethe spacer sleeves 64 are loosely retained on the support axle 62 andfree to rotate so as not to affect the rotation of the flywheel 60. Anpair of openings 66 may be provided in the annular housing 52 to allowfor insertion and retention of the support axle 62 when the inertialdynamic toy 10 is assembled.

In an exemplary embodiment, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the outer diameterof the annular housing 52 may be about 48 mm (dimension ‘E’), and theouter diameter of the upper ridge 54 may have a diameter of about 44 mm(dimension ‘F’). The inner diameter of the annular housing may be about35 mm (dimension ‘H’). The annular housing 52 may have an overallthickness of about 8 mm, with the circumferential groove having a widthof approximately 2 mm. FIGS. 11 and 12 are detail, partially-sectional,views of the annular housing 52 showing the upper ridge 54, thecircumferential groove 56, and the opening 66 for receiving the supportaxle 62.

Many of the specific details of certain embodiments of the invention areset forth in the above description and related drawings to provide athorough understanding of such embodiments. One skilled in the art willunderstand, however, that the present invention may be practiced withoutseveral of the details described in the above description. Moreover, inthe description, it is understood that the figures related to thevarious embodiments are not to be interpreted as conveying any specificor relative physical dimension.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inertial dynamic toy comprising: a annularhousing having a circumferential groove; a flywheel mounted to aflywheel support axle, said flywheel support axle configured to beretained inside said annular housing; and an outrigger support framereleasably attached to said annular housing.
 2. An inertial dynamic toyas in claim 1 wherein said annular housing comprises an upper ridge. 3.An inertial dynamic toy as in claim 1 wherein said circumferentialgroove comprises a substantially semicircular cross sectional shape. 4.An inertial dynamic toy as in claim 1 wherein said outrigger supportframe comprises either a soft metal or a flexible plastic.
 5. Aninertial dynamic toy as in claim 1 where said outrigger supportcomprises a first C-shaped fan-like section, a second C-shaped fan-likesection, a first central curved section connected to said first C-shapedfan-like section, and a second central curved section connected to thesecond C-shaped fan-like section.
 6. An inertial dynamic toy as in claim5 wherein said first central curved section and said second centralcurved section are both connected to the first C-shaped fan-like sectionto said second C-shaped fan-like section.
 7. An inertial dynamic toy asin claim 5 wherein said first C-shaped fan-like section, said secondC-shaped fan-like section, said first central curved section, and saidsecond central curved section are mechanically connected by at least oneof: fastening, brazing, soldering, and bonding.
 8. An inertial dynamictoy as in claim 5 wherein said first C-shaped fan-like section, saidsecond C-shaped fan-like section, said first central curved section, andsaid second central curved section comprise a unitary component.
 9. Aninertial dynamic toy as in claim 5 wherein said first central curvedsection and said second central curved section are configured to fitinto said circumferential groove.
 10. An inertial dynamic toy as inclaim 9 wherein said first C-shaped fan-like section and said secondC-shaped fan-like section provide compressive, spring-like forces toretain said first central curved section and said second central curvedsection in said circumferential groove.
 11. An inertial dynamic toy asin claim 10 wherein said first C-shaped fan-like section forms adihedral angle with said second C-shaped fan-like section, said dihedralangle comprising an angle of between 120° to 180°.
 12. An inertialdynamic toy as in claim 1 further comprising a hemispherical dome coversecured to said annular housing.
 13. An inertial dynamic toy as in claim1 further comprising a first cover attached to and covering said firstC-shaped fan-like section and a second cover attached to and coveringsaid second C-shaped fan-like section.
 14. A method of imparting dynamicaction to a toy comprising the steps of: providing a flywheel mounted toa flywheel support axle; securing said flywheel support axle to anannular housing such that said flywheel freely rotates along an axis ofrotation coincident with said flywheel support axle; and attaching anoutrigger support frame to said annular housing such that said flywheeland said outrigger support frame provide two-point support to saidannular housing.
 15. The method as in claim 13 wherein said step ofattaching comprises the step of placing a portion of said outriggersupport frame into a circumferential groove in said annular housing. 16.The method as in claim 13 further comprising the step of rotating saidannular housing with respect to said outrigger support frame.
 17. Themethod as in claim 13 wherein said outrigger support frame comprises afirst C-shaped fan-like section providing a compressive spring-likeforce to retain said outrigger support frame on said annular housing.18. The method as in claim 17 further comprising the step of attaching acover to said first C-shaped fan-like section.
 19. The method as inclaim 13 further comprising a second C-shaped fan-like section, whereina cross sectional shape of said outrigger support frame taken throughboth said first C-shaped fan-like section and said second C-shapedfan-like section defines an obtuse angle.
 20. The method as in claim 19wherein said obtuse angle comprises an angle ranging from 120° to 180°.